Ministry of Industry has proposed the cabinet to mobilise 2,500 Armed Police Force (APF) personnel for industrial security.

The said number of APF has been determined in line with Rs 1 billion allocated by the Finance Ministry.

As per the proposal forwarded to the cabinet, the concept of industrial security force has been divided into three different layers: industrial zone, industrial corridor and private security to industrialists.

A separate security committee will also be formed to decide on the mobilisation of industrial security force for any of the three layers.

After the government decides to provide security, interested private parties are required to pay certain amount to enjoy the facility.

According to the proposal, especially in the case of industrial corridor, 4/5 industries can collectively ask the government for security force. Â

The establishment of separate industrial security force demands a separate legal mechanism.

However, the government has decided to leverage the APF for industrial security in an ad hoc manner after the private sector gave an ultimatum, warning that all industries will be closed down if the state did not ensure adequate security to them by March 31. nepalnews.com   Â